Latest tattoo lowdown.....

[sophistre]

Can I borrow your arm, and possibly not return it? Between the thread you posted before and seeing the backside now, man, lookin' good.

Thank you very much!! I am thrilled with it.

I love Greg's work, although I must admit that I preferred his style before he switched to traditional. This arm is great. However, I've always been curious why some people prefer to have a bunch of one point tattoos rather than a full cohesive sleeve with a single focal image and background. Curious to hear your answer.

You aren't alone in those feelings. His instagram gets comments frequently from people lamenting the passing of his 'animals wearing necklaces' phase, though less these days than before, since he refuses to tattoo it anymore. That original style is what first drew me to him; it's beautiful artwork and seriously impressive...but maybe not very optimal for a tattoo.

He's told me that he was really into it while he was doing it, but he was tired of it, and he said he's realized they're all going to age very poorly. Listening to him talk to one of the other tattooers in the shop one night, he also said he finds doing the actual tattooing with traditional much more satisfying and enjoyable -- that he used to enjoy when he achieved the effect he was going for with the neo-trad, but he didn't actually enjoy the labor of it.

This last time I was down there, he talked about how he admires the simple economy/elegance of the designs...that he's played with altering some of them and most of the time he discovers that the thinking that went into that simplicity is actually extremely complex, and most of the designs he likes best just cannot be improved on; that it's difficult to change parts of them without compromising something else.

As for the sleeve thing, originally I did want a full sleeve. I've known I wanted to be tattooed since I was pretty young -- early teens -- but I wasn't much for American traditional. I made a lot of the same ill-informed judgements about things like flash and whatnot that I hear other people making these days. I did love Japanese traditional, though. I wanted to be covered with it! I even exchanged faxes with Horiyoshi III back in the day. (Faxes. Seriously.)

I don't regret the way things worked out, though. Like Bmore, I find the use of negative space extremely striking. It's fun to show up to the shop and not know what you're going to be getting; it's sort of like getting a present. And you can get all kinds of different things -- so many different artists doing different takes on all kinds of styles and subject matter. Full sleeves (and squid pants :o) are gorgeous in their own way, but they eat up real estate. It's a trade-off, I guess.

Also, I sort of feel that piecemeal sleeves like this one ARE full sleeves, in a way. You may not know what the full character of the sleeve will be until it's done, but when I see people who have whole limbs done in this style I still get a very specific impression from the overall collection of images -- something with no less an identity as a cohesive piece. It's one of the things I was thinking about when I read all of the nice comments on the other thread...I almost wish I could get some distance on my arm and see it the way other people see it, as a whole thing rather than a collection of parts. It's hard to do when it's on myself, for whatever reason.

[Rad Kelham]

I guess I just prefer big, full coverage, with strong attention to composition. Getting a ton of small tattoos in my mind looks impulsive and like the wearer is trying to look heavily tattooed without all the patience, pain, time and effort of getting big pieces. A new banger every paycheck instead of a 6 hour session once a month on a tattoo that takes a year to achieve. But that was a digression which doesn't apply to your sleeve.

Thanks for the thorough response. I'm actually getting a traditional piece from him with no background on my chin, as I've killed all my real estate with big tattoos :-(

[Rad Kelham]

Unrelated to the last post, here's today's session with Derek Noble on my ass and thigh.

[sophistre]

Oh! Haha. Welllll, I dunno. Coverage still takes time, and tattoos still hurt, and they're still expensive, no matter how many hours you book at once. The endurance trial is certainly an experience, I imagine. I'll find out whenever I get around to my back, since I know already I'm going nape to at least the back of the thigh, and probably Japanese.

Nice dinosaur!

[polliwog]

From a personal standpoint: I have one-point tattoos so far. I am sometimes impulsive. Don't really see an issue with my tattoos possibly conveying this about me...

[DavidR]

Dammit @sophistre, you're killing me! Is it possible to die of arm envy?

[Pugilist]

Some people's tattoo worlds seem really small... (In my own world, there are lots of cool different ways to get tattooed.)

[AuntTudie]

Almost all my tattoos are large pieces. My leg piece started out as a few small ones and when I finally found someone I liked we had to design around it. I keep looking for something small to do, but I want to know I can tastefully add to it. And about sitting times? Damn 4 hours is about my limit. Especially the back ribs.

[Rad Kelham]

Some people's tattoo worlds seem really small... (In my own world, there are lots of cool different ways to get tattooed.)

Bigger IS better - that's my opinion and I'm sticking with it! That's why guys like James Tex, Filip Leu, Horiyoshi, Steve Moore are at the top. Bigger pieces are the natural progression. The small stuff is nice too and is best for most people. But the holy grail is the big stuff. No perfect traditional banger will have the visual impact of a neck to knee backpiece nor the power of all the work that went into making it. The commitment, time, and effort that goes into those pieces is staggering. The Japanese have recognized this from the beginning, and that's why they were blowing the minds of the american masters 50 years ago, not the other way around. Their stuff was bigger and better. Then we caught up and are now backpedaling to simple traditional again. Everyone wants the instant gratification of a quick and easy piece and it's a goddamn tragedy.

[suburbanxcore]

This is why they make chocolate AND vanilla ice cream.

That said, as I've mentioned many times, I'm working on my first "cohesive" sleeve. I'm so impatient, and while I love seeing it come together, it's definitely a very different experience than getting one-shot tattoos for the last ten years. I can't say which I like better, really.

[Rad Kelham]

This is why they make chocolate AND vanilla ice cream.

Well clearly chocolate is better. Everyone knows that ;-)

[Isaiah118]

Both done by Taylor @ Till Death Tattoo in Tulsa. Neck is love and faithfullness.

[knucklehead211]

So gross. But the outline is complete and most of the shading is done. Now to heal up and get the ninth off!

[purplelace]

@sophistre fucking beautiful arm :)

@Isaiah118 like the broken rosary for the wording :)

@knucklehead211 shame you didn't get a pic before the cling film went on :(

As regards the coverage chat, always had planned mine from when started getting tattooed that they would be individual pieces that would all eventually be merged. Which is starting to slowly happen.

[knucklehead211]

@knucklehead211 shame you didn't get a pic before the cling film went on :(

Pics after first wash!

[xcom]

Pics after first wash!

Sick bro!

[sophistre]

Dammit @sophistre, you're killing me! Is it possible to die of arm envy?

I hope not!! ...I'm pretty sure not, anyway. If that were possible I'd have died years ago, when I wasn't able to be tattooed at all. (Also, thanks. :) )

[RoryQ]

Got this on the back of my knee by Tim Pausinger today at The Pearl Harbour Gift Shop.

I was really surprised that he said he didn't tattoo this before (or anything else on that sheet).

Saw some really cool Bill Baker flash in there of all these different wrestling holds - awesome! If I'm back I'm getting the sleeper hold one for sure.

Most importantly met LSTer @markbee and his wife - really good folks. Next time In in town we'll have a proper coffee / bite to eat ... Although then again can't beat a meet up in a tattoo shop either.

[Graeme]

@RoryQ Excellent! That wrestler flash is really great and I've been wanting something from it myself. Was Bill there? He's a great dude, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that he's a big reason why so many of us get great tattoos.

[Mark Bee]

Got this on the back of my knee by Tim Pausinger today at The Pearl Harbour Gift Shop.

I was really surprised that he said he didn't tattoo this before (or anything else on that sheet).

Saw some really cool Bill Baker flash in there of all these different wrestling holds - awesome! If I'm back I'm getting the sleeper hold one for sure.

Most importantly met LSTer @markbee and his wife - really good folks. Next time In in town we'll have a proper coffee / bite to eat ... Although then again can't beat a meet up in a tattoo shop either.

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It was great to meet you, your wife, and your wee one today! It was also a blast getting tattooed on the next table over. It seemed a fitting way to meet a fellow LST-er. That tattoo looks great in the pic and even better in person. Tim's a great guy.

I'll post a pic from my tattoo at The Pearl in Toronto. This diving girl is by Glennie, one of my favourite tattooers.

And ya, Baker's flash is pretty great. Its my goal to get tattooed by Bill sometime soon.

[sighthound]

@Rad Kelham

For me, personally, it's about more than just the aesthetic of it. Yes, I agree that the full pre-planned bodysuit is the apex of tattoo art. And every time I see one it blows my mind. Not just the tattoo, but also the dedication, care, and thought that went into it.

With that being said, there's a certain satisfaction that accompanies the one-shots as well. Yes, it can be impulsive and instantly gratifying. But that's just part of the experience. It allows us the opportunity to relive that magic with every piece. Maybe it's a new city, new artist, new shop, new idea - it all allows us to connect to new people and have new experiences. Where as, maybe, with a much larger project it starts to become a chore and we just want it to be over so we can see the finished product.

I am wayyy too ADD to stick with a single style or theme anyways. I love so many different things that it would be against my nature to dedicate it all to one cohesive suit, as beautiful as it may be. I just like the way it all looks - piecemeal and full bodysuit.

[RoryQ]

@RoryQ Excellent! That wrestler flash is really great and I've been wanting something from it myself. Was Bill there? He's a great dude, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that he's a big reason why so many of us get great tattoos.

@Graeme

He was outside the shop and @markbee mentioned that it was him in passing ... Then I kind of recognised him from some pictures somewhere.

[Rad Kelham]

@sighthound I agree with you, and I personally have a mix of big and small tattoos...however mostly big. I've always got them in terms of full arm, full arm, full back, etc, using smaller pieces here and there to connect the awkward spots. Heck I even have a bunch of small finger tattoos, as I like that that aesthetic.

And this has become a huge digression from the greggletron arm I initially commented on - which I like.

However I see so many people getting only small tattoos, and all over the place. This type of collection has always bothered me and I've always considered those people either totally clueless to tattooing or posers.

Anyway people will keep getting what they want, and I'll keep being grumpy about some of them. Pretty soon I'll be putting these small tattoos on people that I would never in hell get on myself.

So it goes.

[Mark Bee]

Oops.

[sighthound]

@Rad Kelham

I know what you mean by small. Stuff that's pea-sized relative to the part of the body it's put on. I can't do that either. Takes up a lot of prime space. I've got a mixture of big and small, too. I like my big pieces to utilize the maximum amount of space that they're in. And when I'm not feeling like a big piece then I'll get a smaller one in an easy area to fill (ankle, foot, etc.).

Although, I did get about 90% of my thigh done in one sitting - so the best of both worlds, I guess lol.